Chartered Tax Professional

OVERVIEW

The Chartered Tax Professional Online Certificate Program will teach you to prepare tax returns for individuals, small business corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships. In fact, you can start working and earning money while completing the program. After successfully finishing just the first two modules in the Chartered Tax Professional Certificate Program, you'll be qualified to prepare individual tax returns for almost all U.S. taxpayers. This online certificate program is offered in partnership with major colleges, universities, and other accredited education providers.

Meet the IRS e-File and due diligence requirements for tax practitioners

Understand the ethical responsibilities of tax professionals

Prepare for the IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) examination

DETAILS

A Chartered Tax Professional (CTP) is someone who has completed a specific series of tax courses in individual and small business income tax preparation. This nationally recognized innovative online certificate program enables students to start working and earning money while completing coursework toward the CTP professional credential.

After successfully completing the first course in the CTP certificate program, you will be qualified to prepare individual tax returns for almost all U.S. taxpayers and will also have the tax knowledge to successfully pass the IRS Competency Exam.

A CTP is also able to prepare returns for small business corporations and partnership and more complex sole proprietorships. As a CTP you will have the tax knowledge and experience to prepare for the IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) exam, if you wish to add the coveted EA credential to your professional designation as a CTP.

The Steps to Becoming a CTP

1. Successfully complete The Income Tax School series of six 30-hour Income Tax Programs (four additional Programs beyond the 60-hour Comprehensive Tax Program). An average grade of at least 80% must be attained (our adult students average 90%+).

2. Meet the experience requirement of working at least two tax seasons (a minimum of 500 hours) as a tax preparer while in the program (prior tax preparation experience will count for experienced tax professionals who test out of the basic and/or intermediate programs).

After completing this comprehensive certificate program, you’ll be well prepared to handle almost any individual and small business income tax situation you encounter. You’ll also be ready to take the next step in your career as a tax professional by preparing for and taking the IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) exam. The EA designation is the most significant credential in the income tax preparation industry, even more relevant than the CPA designation.

Attention California Residents!

If you live in California and plan to become a preparer of Federal and/or state income tax returns, you must meet the requirements of the California Tax Education Council (CTEC) to become licensed to practice as a California Tax Preparer. Therefore, you should take our California Chartered Tax Professional certificate program, which will enable you to meet the CTEC requirements while also earning your professional CTP designation.

Upon registering, you're given eighteen (18) months to complete this program.

REQUIREMENTS

This program can be taken from either a Mac or a PC. This program is compatible with the Windows XP and later operating systems and IE 7 and later browsers.

Each of the four modules is accompanied by a student text. The entire text is provided online; however, hard copies of student texts are also provided at the start of each program for your convenience and future reference. You will receive the following materials:

Federal Forms

Federal Worksheets

Instructions

Publication

Tax Preparer Resources

PREREQUISITES

A high school diploma or equivalent is a prerequisite for this program. Accounting and specific math skills aren't required, just the aptitude to work with numbers and people and to read and interpret the tax laws.

This program is suitable for all adults who seek a fast track to a professional white-collar career. Tax preparation is especially appealing to those who would enjoy helping other people by making the intimidating task of tax preparation a pleasant experience, while saving their clients money by minimizing their tax liabilities.

Tax preparation is also an ideal career choice for those looking for part-time income. Homemakers with young children find tax preparation a convenient profession, as they're able to be off when their children are out of school for the summer, yet maintain their professional skills. College students prepare taxes as an opportunity to gain professional work experience and credentials to strengthen their resumes. Moonlighting professionals use tax preparation a source of extra income during winter months.

Many employed and self-employed individuals such as financial services and real-estate professionals find tax preparation a complementary profession to earn extra money and generate leads for their other professional activities, while also enabling them to better serve their clients through knowledge of the tax consequences of their clients' decisions.

If you are taking this course to begin a career in taxation you will need to meet the following requirements:

Complete Comprehensive Tax Course (located within program)

Register with the IRS and get a PTIN

Begin preparing tax returns as a tax preparer

Please note that your continuing education requirements will begin once your PTIN has been issued.

INSTRUCTOR

Instructor support is provided through e-mail by experienced practicing tax professionals employed by Peoples Income Tax, Inc., a sister company of The Income Tax School.

FAQS

1. Can I register for programs if I am an international student?

Yes, because ed2go programs are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration.

2. How long does it take to complete a program?

Upon registering, you're given eighteen (18) months to complete this program.

3. Do I have to buy additional materials?

All the materials you'll need are included, and their cost will be covered by your tuition. ed2go will ship all materials ground service upon enrollment.

4. Can I get financial assistance?

ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.

5. What happens when I complete the program?

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.

6. Am I guaranteed a job?

ed2go programs will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We don't provide direct job placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Facilitators will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

7. Who will be my instructor?

Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

8. What software or hardware do I need in order to take online programs and what are the system requirements?

In order to take our online programs, you must have access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any Web-enabled computer. You don't have to use the same computer to log-in to the program every time. We recommend that you have a word-processing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.

9. Can I use a Mac?

Yes, you can use a Mac for this program.

10. How can I get more information about the program?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button toward the top of the page). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please feel free to send us a question using the "Contact Us" form to the right. You may also call us at 1-855-520-6806. We will answer your questions promptly.

11. When can I start the program?

Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready.

Please note: Once the program curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.

12. Are your tax programs something that an individual can study and do at home on their own, like a correspondence program? If so, are all the materials needed included? What does each program cost? How long does it take to complete each program?

Our programs in income tax preparation are available for home study online, anywhere, anytime, 24/7. The programs are interactive, with instructional feedback and support from qualified instructors provided by e-mail. Everything you need to complete each program is available online, including the student text. The hard copy of the program isn’t a requirement; all materials needed are downloadable. However, we do include a hard copy so all students have it for future reference and for convenience.

After successfully completing the COMPREHENSIVE course (the first course in the Chartered Tax Professional program), you’ll be able to prepare most individual tax returns for the general taxpaying public. You can gain practical experience while completing the advanced and small business tax programs.

13. I just registered yesterday and got my user ID and password today. I'm excited to get started but was wondering if you recommend I wait for my book?

You can if you want to; however, everything you need is available online. The book is a great tool to have while taking the program so you don’t have to print everything out. It’s also a great reference after you finish the program. Feel free to start your program now and just download anything you need until your book comes. It should only be a few days.

14. What does online mean, and how will I know how I'm doing?

Online means via the Internet. When taking an online program, you’ll receive instant feedback on the accuracy of each homework assignment, quiz, and exam. You must successfully pass each chapter (a 70% grade is passing) before you can move on to the next one. When you have a question or comment, send an e-mail to your assigned instructor through a direct link. Instructors will respond within one business day, maximum.

15. How up-to-date are your programs?

Our income tax programs have been or are in the process of being updated to cover the 2015 tax laws. As you know, the new tax laws that will affect 2016 tax returns have not been finalized as of yet. The 2016 laws usually become final in the last couple months of the year. We will issue tax law updates around the beginning or middle or December. The updates will detail the tax law changes for 2016. This allows you to take the current 2015 tax law program and become familiar with the tax laws as they are enacted for 2016. Just to note, all taxes using 2015 information done in 2016 use 2015 tax law. The practice problems in our program allow you time to apply the knowledge as you learn. The tax law updates provide the enhancement necessary to prepare you for the upcoming tax year. There is no additional cost for the tax law updates.

16. Does this program qualify for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit?

Yes. This program qualifies for CPE credit for CPAs.

17. What makes your program different from your competitors?

While many tax programs available focus mostly on theory, our programs are written and taught by veteran tax professionals who work year-round preparing taxes for the general public with Peoples Income Tax, Inc. Because our programs are written by tax professionals working in the tax industry every day, the material incorporates many real-life examples and truly enables the student to prepare taxes for the general public.

18. Are you approved by CTEC?

Yes. We have a California version of our CTP Program that includes the curriculum approved by the California Tax Education Council (CTEC) for qualifying education required for tax preparers to become licenses to practice in California.

19. What program should I take to become a tax preparer in California?

The California CTP Program is approved by CTEC as a qualifying program for California. There are additional requirements to become a tax preparer in California. Please visit CTEC Web site for more information.

20. How can I be assured that no one will have access to my program information online?

Students are issued a unique user ID and password that are required to enter the secure area of the Web site where their data is entered and stored.

21. What is the actual response time to have questions answered by the instructor?

Instructors will respond within one business day, maximum.

22. Will I be able to complete an online assignment more than once?

Yes. You must successfully complete each section with a score of 70% or better before you're able to move on to the next one.

23. What happens if I'm unable to complete my online assignment in one sitting?

If you’re in the middle of reading a chapter, you can simply log off. When you log back in you’ll be able to click back to exactly where you left off. If you must log off in the middle of an online graded assignment (a quiz, homework assignment, or an exam), you’ll have to start the graded assignment over when you return. To make things easier for our students, we recommend downloading the assignment and completing it offline. Then all you’ll need to do is just plug in the correct answers online. This is particularly helpful for students with a dial-up connection.

24. How will I be notified if there is a correction for my online program?

Corrections to your student text will be posted in the program Web site.

25. What if I need to exceed the time frame allowed to complete the program?

The time allotted to complete your program has been calculated based on the number of hours for each program, so don't worry too much about not completing in time. If, after a concerted effort, you are still unable to complete, your Student Advisor will help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that a fee will be charged for an extension.

26. Once I complete the program, how will I receive my certificate?

Once you’ve successfully completed each program (and your final exam has been graded), you’ll need to fill out the Request for Certificate of Completion. Your instructor will then provide you with a certificate of completion by mail. Your CTP certificate will be issued after you’ve completed all programs with an average grade of 80% or more and have documented the 500 hours experience needed to qualify for the CTP designation.

27. How would you compare your school to other tax schools?

The Income Tax School is certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) as a private career school and is subject to the same standards as Virginia colleges governed by SCHEV. We are also a sponsor of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to provide CPE for CPAs. We’re approved by the Office of Professional Responsibility at the Internal Revenue Services as provider of qualifying continuing education for IRS Registration Tax Return Preparers (RTRPs) and Enrolled Agents (EAs). This approval does not extend to licensees of The Income Tax School. We’re approved by the Oregon Board of Tax Service Examiners.

The Income Tax School’s programs were developed initially 19 years ago to recruit and train tax prepares for our multi-office practice in Virginia. Our curriculum is written and updated annually be experienced practicing tax professionals. All of the Income Tax School’s programs are provided online in an interactive format with instructor support by e-mail rather than by traditional home-study correspondence. We provide learning objectives, lesson quizzes with instructional feedback, and auto-graded exams. Although all of the student textbook content is online, we also provide a hard copy of the student text for convenience and future reference at no additional charge. Our programs are high-quality and are designed to provide students with the knowledge necessary to prepare tax returns professionally.

REVIEWS

I enjoyed the entire CTP program: I enjoyed how the courses are displayed, the moments when I took the exams, the moments when I completed each Module, and the moments when I received the Certificate of Completion.- S.F., George Mason University

Thank you again! It has been a very intense and wonderful program and I feel more confident relating to clients with the additional knowledge I have gained. The time spent on this course will be rewarding.- P.M., University of Georgia

Community College of Beaver CountyContinuing Education DivisionOne Campus Dr.Monaca, PA 15061 US